Cleverness

Proverbs says, Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

The proverbs are so good – I love reading them.  They’re witty, “clever,” and they cut to the chase, don’t they? 

We live in a society that wears itself out trying to obtain riches and hold onto them.  And we do it by trusting in our own cleverness (inventiveness, and imagination).  If we can create or imagine something more outstanding, more innovative, and then create the need for what we’ve imagined – we’re an instant sensation – and riches are ours!  Until the next person creates and imagines something bigger and better…

This verse says to just cast a “glance” at riches, because they don’t stay around.  In fact the imagery here is awesome – they sprout wings and fly off.

So if we’re not to trust in our own cleverness, nor gaze at riches, nor wear ourselves out by working hard to get them…what are we supposed to do?

Later in Proverbs Chapter 23 is the answer…always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

And in chapter 28 it says if we trust in the Lord we will prosper.

And we won’t wear ourselves out, either.